President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said those found guilty in the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ikoyi cash scandal will be prosecuted secretly, even as his administration plans to overhaul national security architecture.

In April, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovered $43 million, £27, 800 and N23 million at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Buhari spoke at Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja while receiving a report of the panel established to review the operational, technical and administrative structure of NIA.

Presidential spokesperson Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement, quoted Buhari as saying that the Osborne Tower incident and its aftermath had brought to the fore, the need to review the entire national security architecture.

President Buhari said the present national security architecture has been in operation as established 31 years ago. 

He said the discovery of monies in the flat at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, was an “unfortunate incident which rightly aroused public interest and outcry.”

“All the circumstances surrounding the obtaining, keeping custody and disbursement of the funds have been examined by the Vice President’s Committee and all those found to be culpable will be made to account and appropriately sanctioned.

“However, it must be understood that this cannot be done in a manner that jeopardises national security or exposes the operations of any intelligence agency, which must, by nature be conducted in secrecy.

“Suffice it for me to assure all that justice will be done consistent with our anti-corruption policies,” the president said. 

Buhari commended the Presidential Review Panel on NIA led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr Babagana Kingibe, for completing their assignment expeditiously.

He said the recommendations of the panel and that of an earlier committee headed by the vice president to look into the Osborne matter would assist the government in improving the operations of NIA and the overall national security architecture.    

“Your panel’s recommendation, informed as they are by your collective experience and expertise in this field, should in particular help to reposition the NIA to better perform its vital functions with greater professionalism.

“Once again, I thank you very much for undertaking this national assignment,” the president said.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was present at the presentation of the report by the panel which has Mr Albert Horsfall, Mr Zakari Ibrahim, and Mr Ezekiel Oladeji, as members.

Daily Trust